US immigration authorities appear to have begun deporting migrants to South Sudan, attorneys say

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST WASHINGTON AP Immigration personnel appear to have begun deporting newcomers from Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan despite a court order on removals to third countries attorneys for the newcomers explained Tuesday Related Articles Trump expected to announce Golden Dome space missile defenses that will cost billions More tornadoes and fewer meteorologists make for a dangerous mix that s worrying US agents Elon Musk says he will cut back on political spending after heavily backing Trump in New Trump vaccine plan limits access to COVID shots Trump on Capitol Hill implores divided Republicans to unify behind his big tax cuts bill Up to a dozen people from several countries may have been deported to Africa immigration rights lawyers reported a judge An immigration official in Texas substantiated in an email that at least one man from Myanmar had been flown to South Sudan Tuesday morning according to court documents A woman also shared to attorneys that her husband from Vietnam and up to other people were flown to Africa on Tuesday Those removals would violate a court order from a judge in Massachusetts requiring that people must have a chance to challenge removals to countries other than their homelands attorneys from the National Immigration Litigation Alliance wrote They appealed Judge Brian E Murphy for an crisis court order to prevent removal without an opportunity to go to court He previously disclosed deportations to Libya would violate his ruling The Department of Homeland Shield and the White House did not at once return messages seeking comment South Sudan s political landscape is fragile and latest violence between authorities troops and armed opposition groups has escalated tensions Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana contributed to this description